'Stand and Deliver' teacher dies at 79

Jaime Escalante, the Los Angeles teacher who inspired the 1988 film Stand and Deliver starring Edward James Olmos, has died.

According to People, the 79-year old passed away at his son's home in Reno, Nevada, on Tuesday after a prolonged battle with bladder cancer.

Escalante taught maths at Garfield High School until 1991. He transformed the school's struggling maths department into the fifth-highest ranking in advanced placement for calculus students in the nation.

"It makes such a difference to have had a teacher who is as dedicated and giving to his students as Mr Esclanate was", said Nora Gonzalez, a former student of Escalante. "This man stayed late working with his students, He worked with us through recesses and lunches and weekends. He was there for us, for every one of us who was willing to work."

Jaime Escalante is survived by his wife, two sons and six grandchildren.